Since the 1950s, the literature on
leadership has highlighted the
differences between task-oriented
leaders and social-emotional leaders,
with conventional wisdom dictating that
a leader must be one type or the other.
However, new research from Case
Western Reserve University suggests
the opposite may be true.
In an article in the journal Frontiers
in Human Neuroscience, Richard
Boyatzis, professor of organizational
behavior at CWRU’s Weatherhead
School of Management; Anthony Jack,
assistant professor of cognitive science
and Kylie Rochford, a doctoral student
in organizational behavior, describe
two capabilities in the normal human
brain that impact leadership in very
different ways.
Researchers found the brain contains
the Task Positive Network (TPN), which
is task-oriented and analytical, and the
Default Mode Network (DMN), which
is empathetic and social. Furthermore,
they found that leaders are at their best
when they can switch back and forth
between the two capacities.
Through functional magnetic resonance
imaging, Jack found the TPN and DMN
tend to suppress one another when
presented with technical or social
problems to solve.
“Every normal brain contains both
modes, with the flexibility to go to
the right mode at the right time,” Jack
said. “In the business world right now,
the emphasis is more on the task
orientation of leaders rather than
cultivating empathy. That is partly
because it’s easier to assess taskoriented leadership.”
According to Jack, the long-term
consequences of this bias are
damaging. “Emphasizing one side
over the other is not the best way to
promote good leadership.”
6 Coaching World
— Abby Tripp Heverin
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Keeping Current
Balanced Leadership
Leadership development and succession
planning initiatives also tend to “confuse
the ability to be effective in both [modes]
by focusing on one,” Boyatzis said. For
example, the usual stepping stone to
becoming a school principal is serving as
an assistant principal.
“The assistant principal focuses on tasks
and operations and discipline within the
school, which are often lousy preparation
for relationship development,” Boyatzis
said. “But the role of the principal is to
develop relationships with the parents
and community.”
However, Boyatzis said there’s reason
for optimism: “The fact we have these
two distinct neural domains suggests it
is possible to cultivate both sides, and
we do see that